'RuPaul's Drag Race' Renewed for Eighth Season

Logo hands an early renewal to its signature reality competition series.

Logo has handed out an early renewal to its signature reality competition series.

The Viacom-owned cabler has renewed RuPaul's Drag Race for an eighth season, the company announced on Friday.

The pickup comes weeks after the show's seventh-season premiere spiked 20 percent year-over-year among the coveted adults 18-49 demographic when factoring in three days of delayed viewing. The premiere ranks as one of the most-watched debuts in the franchise's history, with the second episode up double-digits compared to the season opener.

Production on season eight is now under way as Logo kicks off a nationwide casting call for new contestants.

"After a record-breaking year of ratings and viewership, it's only fitting we would continue to rise with our first lady, RuPaul,” said Chris McCarthy, GM of MTV2 and Logo TV. “From the cultural phenomenon of Drag Race, our partnership with the visionary Russell T. Davies and the creation of a new documentary division, we are making Logo TV the home of today’s most innovative storytellers.”

The LGBT-themed network also used the debut of Drag Race to preview Cucumber and Banana, two new scripted series from Queer as Folk creator Davies. Both original series debut on April 13 at 9 and 10 p.m., respectively.